Woodbridge Capital, an investment manager and non-bank lender, has appointed Equity Trustees to be the responsible entity of its new retail fund, the Woodbridge Secured Income Fund.

Andrew Godfrey, Executive General Manager, Corporate and Superannuation Trustee Services, Equity Trustees said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as the responsible entity for this new fund by Woodbridge Capital. We look forward to collaborating closely with them both now and in the future within this expanding asset class.”

The Woodbridge Secured Income Fund aims to provide investors with a net return of the RBA cash rate plus 5%-7% per annum net of fees and costs. It seeks to achieve this by providing investors with indirect exposure to first mortgage (senior secured) Australian and New Zealand commercial real estate loans.

Andrew Torrington, Managing Director and CIO at Woodbridge Capital said, “We’re excited about the launch of our second private credit fund, and the opportunity to provide retail investors with a pure, first mortgage (senior secured) commercial real estate fund.”

“The reduction of real estate financing by Australian and New Zealand banks, driven by market dynamics and regulatory changes, has created an opportunity in the lending market. We believe this trend will continue, and this new fund will present a unique chance for retail investors to engage in private credit,” he said.

Woodbridge Capital is an established investment manager with experienced funds management professionals, wholly owned by its directors. With over three decades of experience, the team specialises in property finance, real estate investment, development, and construction. Over the last decade alone, they have successfully deployed and overseen more than $5 billion in loans without any impairments.

Equity Trustees’ Mr Godfrey added: "Our extensive expertise and years of experience in fund governance position us to work effectively with asset management firms, spanning the entire debt and equity spectrum."